A win is a win but sheesh, talk about a game that left your head spinning. On the one hand, Jon Lester was horrible again - an ominous longer-term sign. On the other, Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis showed flashes of their early-season form - something that will not be a luxury but a necessity if Sox hurlers are going to stink up the joint three out of every five nights. To see those two hitting with pop again sure was encouraging but then the bullpen once again looked shaky and I think it might officially be time to downgrade Jonathan Papelbon from “dominant on an historic level” to merely “very good.” Still, the offense managed 11 runs with zero combined hits from David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez - another positive indicator. And so it went yesterday. I have no idea what to make of this club but for better or worse, whether you want to believe or not, here we are again - neck and neck with the Yankees and a month-and-a-half of baseball to go.

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A couple of interesting items from yesterday’s action. One, Angels rookie Jered Weaver leveraged his “average stuff” (just ask Keith Law and Kevin Goldstein) and shut the Yankees down over six innings yesterday, allowing three runs and three walks while striking out eight. Two, the White Sox polished off the Detroit Tigers for the sweep and in the process pulled to within 5.5 games of first place in the AL Central. This bit of news should be of interest to Red Sox fans for a few reasons. One, the White Sox sit atop the AL Wild Card standings. Two, if they continue to gain ground on Detroit, all of a sudden the Tigers become Boston and New York’s competition for the Wild Card as well - which brings us to the series set to kick off tonight at Fenway.

It was going to be important no matter what. These days, they’re all critical. But now, with five (nine?) teams competing for four playoff slots, any contest pitting two such teams takes on added importance. I won’t attempt to tell the incredible story of the Tigers turnaround- Rany Jazayerli knocked that one out of the park last week - but I will say they come intp Boston limping a bit as they’ve lost five straight. Whether that means they are vulnerable or extra hungary remains to be seen.

Nate Robertson and Josh Beckett tonight.